At this point in our studies of Biblical characters, we come to the father of the Jewish people. It would be hard to say which would be considered the greatest in the history of that people, this man or Moses. They are both held in high esteem in the scriptures and are still honored by the Jewish people and by Christians but for different reasons. As I said, Abraham is the father of the Jewish nation.

        Abraham is mentioned by the name Abraham some 249 times and is mentioned by the name he had before God changed it; that is, Abram, some 60 times within the scriptures. He is mentioned in 27 books of the Bible. (O.T. Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Deuteronomy, Joshua, I and II Kings, I and II Chronicles, Nehemiah, Psalms, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Micah N.T. - Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts, Romans, II Corinthians, Galatians, Hebrews, James and I Peter.) It sort of jumps out at you that God wanted us to know something about this person. What do you know about this man who is termed "the father of the faithful" (although the scriptures never call him that) it does call him "the friend of God at two different places, one in the Old Testament (Is. 41:8) and once in James 2:23 which reads as follows; "Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness; and he was called the friend of God."

        What are some of the things we know about him? What things went on in his life and relationship with God that it would help us to know? Let us remember that the history of these characters is not given to fill up the book, but there is a reason for them being there.

        The apostle Paul tells us in regard to the things that are written concerning some of these Old Testament events; "Now these things are warnings for us, not to desire evil as they did." I Cor. 10:6 and then in the 11th verse of the same chapter he says; "Now these things happened to them as a warning, but they are written down for our instruction, upon whom the end of the ages has come." So it is that we need to study these characters and see if we might profit from it.

        The man under discussion first appears in Genesis 11:26 where we are told who his father was and how old he was when the child was born. If you will notice in the preceding chapter and verses, the writer has gone back and reiterates the lineage of the son of Noah known as Shem and it is through this line that Abraham comes. Now there is a reason for this and it is not to just fill up chapter. If you will turn to the book of Luke where the genealogy of Jesus is given, you will find that the list there corresponds to the list given here in Genesis. It is through this that we are shown how the humanity of Jesus was destined to come and through what race and people and through which son of Noah and so on back to God himself as creator.

        As we see him first come upon the scene we see though that is name was not Abraham, but was instead, Abram which means exalted father. We find him after he was born, living in the lad of Ur of the Chaldeans. This was located in what we know as ancient Mesopotamia or Babylon or what we know today as the country of Iraq. The city of Ur itself, is thought to have been located in the area around Bozra. It is here that Abram was when God spoke to him and called him. There is an unanswered question that comes to mind as we read about God calling this man and that question is this; of all the individuals there why did God call Abram and not someone else? The scriptures are silent as far as an answer to this question is concerned so we must be silent also. The only answer anyone could give would be speculation. There is however, a tradition within the Jewish religion that says it was because that Abram never worshipped false gods or idols, even when he was a child. Whatever the reason he did get a call from God that has had enormous consequences for the world.